First things first, to say goodbye to my city and the people I will miss. You start to take ownership of a city after a while, without realizing it this became "my" city as opposed to the many cities I had simply lived in, transitionally, throughout my childhood (which I like to think isn't _quite_ over just yet).

Goodbye Ottawa, see you again someday, maybe.

There is going to be a lot of living outside of the comfort zone ahead. For now, I can relax - family en route means an easy start. First to Mackenzie lake by Algonquin park to visit my cousin and her family. A beautiful ride, though I was going a little fast by the end as the sun sank and my handwritten directions became harder to read. Arrived just shy of 300k out of... well, there's no point trying to guess at it, but it's a long road to Ushuaia, even more so in my circumlocuitous fashion.

Meeting up with family is a great way to ease into life on the road, and not having to start out the journey in the hammock is a good start. Yes, I'm using a hammock instead of a tent. Lets see how that pans out...

And here, enjoying the view with me is Lost, my beautiful partner in crime. We'll both have new scars by the time this is through and plenty of stories to go with them. It's going to be a wild ride, and while I'm still enjoying the relaxed pace of life in the comfort zone, I know there's all kinds of adventure and adversity ahead.

So the set up is pretty basic, as might be expected on a KLR. I've got some goodies though.

Right now I'm running a 17 tooth countershaft sprocket I just picked up in Hamilton, what a difference! I don't miss the 15, but I kept it for once I find myself in latin america playing chicken with transport trucks along winding mountain roads.

The tank is an IMS 6.6 gal, the doo has been done, T-mod is done, and I added barkbuster guards since I'm so tired of snapped levers. I also have a spare clutch cable/lever just in case. I'm running Heidenau k60s and I'll have a Shinko 244 waiting for me at the border for any fun roads I decide to explore in Mexico. Mandatory bash plate, too.

Luggagewise I'm using the SW motech evo racks and H&B aluminum panniers mounted with HT pucks (the stock H&B mounting points are a joke, snapped off first time I lowsided). I've also got a backpack lashed to the back with the remnants of an old Heidenau inner tube and a Wolfman explorer tank bag.

Everything else is stock, though I was burning a hell of a lot of oil before getting the 17 tooth sprocket. Might have to do a 688 upgrade before entering the Heart of Darkness, just seeing how this ride through the states goes first... it's not a cheap upgrade, and the sooner I run out of money the sooner I have to figure out how to get home. Or something.

Even Heidenau's heavy duty inner tubes are no match for lazy carpenters and the 3-inch wood screws they leave lying around. You can ride on an empty tire, but bring a spare. Also Metzeler's tubless enduros are a bitch to get off, you definitely want to use the kickstand to break that bead. Rock the bike on your panniers if you don't have a centrestand.

I do manage to get in some offroading in on my way out. Not on purpose mind you, I just take a *wrong turn on my way out and by the time I realize that this sandy track littered with loose rocks isn't taking me to the highway I'm having too much fun to turn around.

Riding a half ton motorcycle like it's a dirt bike is a recipe for a dirt nap, and sure enough on Day 2 I finally have my first spill on a particularly rough hill. Okay so maybe I had my second and third as well. Hey, it's sandy as hell and this is a different machine with a ninety lbs of luggage. It's hot and sweaty work wrestling Lost upright but it feels great.

Family is waiting for me in Hamilton and seeing everyone reminds me that I need to visit more often. We have some great conversations and catching up, and of course I have to make all kinds of ridiculously insincere promises about being safe and cautious on my journey. It's an adventure, not a pleasure cruise. At least I can promise good stories.

Speaking of which, I take the opportunity to catch up with some radical people in Canada's other capital, Toronto, and say goodbye to another familiar skyline.

One last goodbye to a girl I'm certainly linked to by fate. (cliffsnotes: Not actually engaged; Miss Xing was one of a harem of wives I collected in University and the only one I kept in touch with, moreso after running into her coincidentally in a mountain in Laos and the markets of Thailand)
She's lucky that's the case, because with her taste in helmets she'd have a hard time getting a ride otherwise.

It's been comfortable, but my feet are getting itchy and Lost didn't get all dolled up for these little jaunts around town. She's got a new 17 tooth countershaft sprocket from DualSportPlus (that means the bike burns less oil, mom), and its a whole new ride as I head off to Detroit.

To have a really interesting time at the US border crossing, when they ask you how long you're staying for and where you're staying the answer is: "I don't have a date planned to leave the US, and I'm staying with some stranger I met on the internet."